I refer to the article in your paper written by Annaliza Borg. I would like to express my disappointment as the article was definitely written with total ignorance as to where pyrotechnics are involved.

Ms Borg based her article on a Facebook group "Ban noise making petards in Malta" which she hailed as this group as it has over 1,500 members. She totally excluded the group Favur il-murtali tradizzjonali f' Malta (In Favour of Traditional Fireworks in Malta), which in only five days accumulated more then 1,400 members. Threats and rude expressions which were referred to the so called polite people, were mentioned in the article, however expressions like “Halluhom ha jaharqu halli jkomplu jmutu” (“Let them all burn and let them continue to die”), “Petards are for retards” and others that are too rude to write here, were not mentioned.

Moreover, no importance was given to the artistic part of fireworks, the sacrifice and dedication these people manufacture fireworks with. These artistic people pass a whole year working and endangering their lives so that finally they infatuate Maltese and tourists alike with fantastic shows.

Fireworks are part of our culture. Unfortunately there is a section of Maltese society which is only capable of mumbling and criticising anything which is Maltese. No one mentioned that Maltese firework factories participated several times in international competitions achieving prestigious awards.

These people must learn to appreciate whatever is Maltese and be proud of it.

Unfortunately, I feel your newspaper is uselessly inflating this argument. Your articles are biased and I feel that this is not the right way to tackle such an argument, at least both sides should be listened to and before criticising Maltese art on the newspaper, a little knowledge about the art of pyrotechnics must be obtained.

Adrian Theuma

Tarxien

Editor's note: TMI never called for the banning of traditional colourful fireworks.

Actually, it was more the opposite. Even in an editorial written on the subject, TMI said colourful nighttime fireworks should remain. It also said that petards should remain, but should be regulated properly as to the times they are let off and the noise levels they are permitted. TMI also reported on various rival groups to the one calling for the ban of petards in subsequent follow up reports. The group referred to by the author was set up to counter the one calling for the ban on petards at a later date.